Letizia and her daughters left the island of Palma de Mallorca on Saturday to travel to Istanbul, Turkey. It is unknown whether the stop in Istanbul was just a stopover, or if the Turkish city will be part of the family vacation of the King.

according to ABC, in this video published by DHA you can see the family arriving. it's low resolution, and i could only spot adults myself, so i guess it's only letizia we can see in it. the article does mention that letizia was separated from leonor and sofia due to "security measures", and that there was a car with a police escort waiting for them to take them elsewhere. you can also see that the party gets off the plane through an exit that goes dowstairs of the "main sleeve" connecting the plane to the terminal - i guess this is the way they use to get VIPs out of commercial flights without them being noticed by other passengers or passers by at the airport. they also flew in a commercial flight from turkish airlines, a direct madrid-istanbul flight, TK-1860.

As the Queen, her daughters and quite probably also the King head to calmer holiday places to enjoy their well deserved rest, let's fill the gap with more chronicles from these last days in Mallorca

F&L seems to continue the path they inaugurated in the last State Visit, inviting famous awarded Spanish chefs to do the catering of their receptions (and we have quite a handful of those, so they can use a different chef for each important reception from now on and not repeat anybody for at least two or three years ). This time, the chosen one was Andreu Genestra, whose restaurant in Mallorca is the proud recipient of a Michelin star. ABC could talk with him after the reception and, apparently, the dinner was a total success for the young chef. Link (with bonus of a pic of Genestra with King Felipe and Queen Letizia)

In Genestra's words: "It was a very beautiful experience. Above of all, because of the plurality of the guests, and because of having worked with the Royal House, and all what it carries in terms of protocol, timing, working system..."

He also informs there was a number of 390 people at the reception from all the five islands that conform the Balearics, so his work was "frenetic" in his own words. And the best memory of the evening is that "the guests ran like vultures to the canapes, they didn't even let the waiters go through!". This leaded of course to the uncomfortable situation of the food not reaching those guests situated in the part of the palace opposed to the kitchen's exit: "Some people from the Royal House came to tell us we would have to go through the castle's catacombs and go out across a different door so the meal could reach the centre of the hall"

Continuing with the article:
Also Genestra had time to talk with the royal couple. Apparently, what King Felipe first asked him was if he was too warm (mind you, the last place I would like to be in a summer afternoon/evening in Mallorca is in a kitchen of an old castle preparing the catering for 390 people ). But as Genestra observed that the king was wearing a heavy jacket suit, he answered: "I guess as warm as Your Majesty!" Seems like Felipe also thanked him for accepting the proposal of serving the catering: "I was so shocked. It was me who thanked him!". And he adds: "I think he wanted to let me now that they want to change the methods in the Royal House. The people was very well represented there by all the guests: there were singers, poets, politicians... (...) I see a generational change in the Spanish Monarchy. Times have changed and His Majesty and the Queen change with them. Many people say we must support young entrepreneurs, but when an important event like this takes place, they hire outsiders. That's why I find so important that the Royal House wanted to work with me, thanks to that 30 young people are here and can up our heads and go ahead"

He also could talk to Queen Letizia: "The Queen came to me and told me she was surprised by how well I had connected with people. I answered that was because I`m just like them, from Mallorca, with the same values and tastes"

All in all, Genestra defines the experience as a "pride". "When I was 18 and people asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I answered I wanted to get my name linked to Mallorca. That when people think in Mallorca, they think too in Andreu Genestra. I don't appreciate the Michelin star or the Royal Reception as much as I do that people call me on the street to thank me for cooking in Mallorca's name (...) The most beutiful thing in life is being a prophet at home"

__________________Palaces are not the ones that dignify kings; kings are the ones who honor them with their presence.Isabel, ep. 26

Thank you everyone for posting the beautiful pictures from their holiday, especially those of the girls!! Leo has always been a favorite of mine, she is so beautiful, but I have to say Sofia is going to be a Stunner when she grows up
In some of the pictures you can see a glimpses of her as she might look as an adult and the world better watch because I think she is going to be the one to knock all the socks off the man. Leo is very very pretty but I think she looks like a Bourbon and will look more and more like her grandmother as she gets older.
This is just my opinion, both girls are beautiful so please don't take it the wrong way!!

wow, that's impressive: having a plan B for your holiday in case the paparazzi spot you! who would have guessed...

el mundo reports on the quick visit of letizia to palma, saying that the queen went with some friends for drinks after the reception at the almudaina. she went to Es Baluard Restaurant & Lounge, with Jaume Anglada and his wife.

Already it confirmed last Saturday at 23: 30h Letizia and girls arrived to Istanbul.
There's a paparazzi agency 24h stands guard at the airport, and called them much attention to the absence of minutes for a new aircraft aterrizata a Spanish flag reaching up at the airport (as mandated by the protocol). They could then take the picture that I show, and although they are not seen them, I assure you that are. From there they marched escorted by a police car to a nearby hotel, where they spent Saturday night, and where they stayed until Sunday afternoon, when they took, from the same place, a plane to Taranto (Italy).
Apparently, to reach Taranto you can travel in low cost (not the most suitable for them), or other companies with a stopover in Rome, Milan (both full of tourists) or Istanbul. In addition, when arriving at night, avoid be photographed and make a long wait at the airport.https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ea&oe=56460B98

Duke, I think you have not read or understood the full information of another forum..

According to ABC, they left Istanbul on Sunday at 18:30. The flight traveling from Istanbul to southern Italy is at 13:30. So or ABC has incorrect data or information about their presence in Italy is false.

Duke, I think you have not read or understood the full information of another forum..

According to ABC, they left Istanbul on Sunday at 18:30. The flight traveling from Istanbul to southern Italy is at 13:30. So or ABC has incorrect data or information about their presence in Italy is false.

I don't know about another forum, this information is from facebook. Of course its speculation.